Image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus includes a delivery roller delivering printing paper by rotating with respect to a predetermined axial line. A generator has a rotating shaft rotated along the axial line by the delivery roller. Thus, the image forming apparatus is adapted to generate electricity.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.§ 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-38941, entitled “Image Forming Apparatus,” filed on May 10, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of generating electricity.

2. Description of the Related Art

Portable image processors, such as digital cameras, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), or laptop computers and the like, have become popular and a mobile network has become conventional with the development of the telecommunications industry, so that portable image forming apparatuses are becoming extremely popular. The portable image forming apparatus can immediately obtain a printing image from the image acquired through the portable image processors on the spot. Furthermore, the portable image forming apparatus can obtain the printing image from the image acquired through the mobile network while moving from one place to another.

The portable image forming apparatus should provide an electrical power source for driving itself, such as a rechargeable battery and the like, because the components thereof should be driven without being supplied with electrical power from an external source of electricity. When the portable image forming apparatus is used without being supplied with electrical power from the external source of electricity, such a battery should be charged with a predetermined amount of electrical power. Additionally, the consecutive running time of the portable image forming apparatus is restricted within a predetermined time because of the capacity of the battery. The capacity of the battery should be increased to extend the consecutive running time, but it is restricted by the size of the portable image forming apparatus, which is compact, light weight, and small.

When residual electrical power of the battery is poor because a user does not charge the battery or uses it for a long time, it may be impossible to use the portable image forming apparatus. Therefore, the user needs to look for the external source of electricity and recharge the battery. In the absence of the external source of electricity, the user is unable to use the portable image forming apparatus. Accordingly, the advantage of the portable image forming apparatus being free from the place of use is weakened.

Accordingly, a need exists for an image forming apparatus adapted to generate electricity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide an image forming apparatus capable of generating electricity.

The foregoing and other objects are substantially realized by providing an image forming apparatus, including a delivery roller delivering printing paper by rotating with respect to a predetermined axial line, and a generator having a rotating shaft rotated along the axial line by the delivery roller.

The image forming apparatus further includes a generator clutch disposed between the delivery roller and the rotating shaft and turning on and off the transfer of rotatory force.

The image forming apparatus further includes a rotating handle coupling with the delivery roller and rotating the delivery roller.

The rotating handle includes a connecting arm adapted to be detachable from the delivery roller and extending in a radial direction of the delivery roller, and a gripper extending in an axial direction of the delivery roller at the connecting arm.

The image forming apparatus further includes a driving part rotating the delivery roller, and a one-way clutch disposed between the driving part and the delivery roller and transferring driving power of the driving part only in a predetermined delivery direction of the printing paper.

The image forming apparatus further includes a rotating handle coupling with the delivery roller and rotating the delivery roller.

The rotating handle includes a connecting arm adapted to be detachable from the delivery roller and extending in a radial direction of the delivery roller, and a gripper extending in an axial direction of the delivery roller at the connecting arm.

The image forming apparatus further includes a driving part rotating the delivery roller, and a one-way clutch disposed between the driving part and the delivery roller and transferring driving power of the driving part only in a predetermined delivery direction of the printing paper.

The image forming apparatus further includes a rectifier for rectifying induced electrical power generated by the generator, and an accumulator for accumulating the rectified electrical power.

The image forming apparatus further includes an image forming unit for forming an image, and the accumulator supplies the electrical power to the image forming unit.

Other objects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a generator of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an image forming apparatus in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The matters defined in the description, such as a detailed construction and elements thereof, are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a generator of FIG. 1. As shown therein, an image forming apparatus 1 includes a delivery roller 10 and a generator 20. The image forming apparatus 1 may use an inkjet printing method, which forms an image by discharging an extremely small ink drop to printing paper; a dye sublimation thermal printing method, which forms the image by heating and compressing selectively an ink ribbon adhered to the printing paper; a laser printing method, which forms the image by transferring an electrostatic latent image applied with developers to the printing paper, or any other suitable method of printing. The image forming apparatus 1 may be, but is not limited to, a printer, a copier, a fax or a multi-functional printer.

The image forming apparatus 1 may be a stationary arrange type that is disposed and used in a predetermined position. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus may be a portable image forming apparatus that may be portable and used in a mobile state. The image forming apparatus 1 is preferably compact, light weight, and small. Therefore, preferably, the image forming apparatus 1 uses the inkjet printing method or the dye sublimation thermal printing method, which are suitable for use in a light weight and small environment, compared to the laser printing method.

The generator 20 has a rotating shaft 26, as shown in FIG. 2. The generator 20 includes a stator 24 and a rotor 22. The stator 24 is supported so as not to rotate with respect to a frame (not shown). The stator 24 includes a plurality of coils 28, which are wound around the stator 24 in an axial direction of the rotating shaft 26, as shown in FIG. 2. The rotor 22 is coupled to the rotating shaft 26 and rotates together with it. The rotor 22 is rotatably accommodated in the stator 24, and has a permanent magnet in which magnetic poles with opposite polarity are alternately arranged at a predetermined angular distance. The generator 20 generates induced electrical power as the rotor 22 is rotated about the stator 24. The rotor 22 may have an electromagnet by a field coil as well as the permanent magnet.

The delivery roller 10 delivers the printing paper by rotating with respect to a predetermined axial line 11, and rotates the rotating shaft 26 along the axial line. The delivery roller 10 delivers the printing paper by rotating, which simultaneously rotates the rotating shaft 26. Accordingly, the delivery roller 10 causes the generator 20 to generate the induced electrical power. The delivery roller 10 may be a feed roller that feeds the printing paper to an image forming part (not shown), such as a printer head, a Thermal Print Head (TPH) or a developing unit. Alternatively, the delivery roller may be a discharge roller, which discharges the printing paper formed with the image from the image forming part (not shown) to the outside. Alternatively, the delivery roller 10 may be a transfer roller, which interposes between the feed roller and the discharge roller and transfers the printing paper from the feed roller to the discharge roller.

A generator clutch 12 is disposed between the delivery roller 10 and the rotating shaft 26 and turns on and off a transfer of rotary force. When the generator clutch 12 is in a closed condition, the rotary force of the delivery roller 10 is transferred to the rotating shaft 26 and then the delivery roller 10 is rotated, so that the rotating shaft 26 is also rotated. When the generator clutch 12 is in an opened condition, the rotatory force of the delivery roller 10 is not transferred to the rotating shaft 26. Accordingly, the rotating shaft 26 is not rotated even though the delivery roller 10 is rotated. The generator clutch 12 may be a conventional clutch means.

The generator clutch 12 may be converted between the closed condition and the opened condition by a manual operation by the user or an automatic control by a controller (not shown). When the generator 20 generates the electrical power, the generator clutch 12 may be moved to the closed condition, and when the image forming apparatus 1 performs a conventional image forming process, the generator clutch 12 may be moved to the opened condition.

The delivery roller 10 couples with the rotating shaft 26 in the axial direction and preferably proximal to the generator clutch 12. When the generator clutch 12 is in the closed condition, the delivery roller 10 rotates together with the rotor 22. Accordingly, the delivery roller 10 may generate the induced electrical power by rotating the rotating shaft 26 in a simple structure. Furthermore, a decelerator, an accelerator or various driving means may be disposed between the generator clutch 12 and the delivery roller 10 or between the generator clutch 12 and the rotating shaft 26.

The image forming apparatus 1 couples to the delivery roller 10, and includes a rotating handle 30 for rotating the delivery roller 10. The rotating handle 30 has a connecting arm 32 and a gripper 34. The connecting arm 32 attaches to and detaches from the delivery roller 10, and extends in a radial direction of the delivery roller 10. The connecting arm 32 is fixed to the delivery roller 10 to integrally rotate if the connecting arm 32 is disposed at the delivery roller 10. The connecting arm 32 disposes the gripper 34 at a position spaced from the rotating axial line 11 of the delivery roller 10 in the radial direction, thereby decreasing the torque required to rotate the delivery roller 10. The gripper 34 is extended from an end of the connecting arm 32 in the axial direction of the delivery roller 10 to provide a convenient grip for a user.

Accordingly, the rotating handle 30 allows the user to easily rotate the delivery roller 10. The rotating handle 30 may be coupled to the delivery roller 10 so as not to be detachable when the rotating handle 30 is rotating the delivery roller 10. Furthermore, the rotating handle may be variably adjusted or changed to a conventional type.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a driving part 50 and a one-way clutch 40. The driving part 50 rotates and drives the delivery roller 10 to cause the delivery roller 10 to deliver the printing paper in a predetermined delivery direction. The driving part 50 includes a driving gear 52, a driving motor 54, and an electrical power source part 56. The driving motor 54 rotates and drives the delivery roller 10 by rotating the driving gear 52. The driving part 50 may include conventional driving means, such as a pulley, as well as the driving gear 52.

The electrical power source part 56 supplies electrical power to the driving motor 54. The electrical power source part 56 may supply electrical power to an image forming unit 80, which is disposed at the image forming apparatus 1 and may require electrical power to form an image, in addition to the driving motor 54. The image forming unit 80 may be an image forming part that directly forms the image, such as the printer head, the TPH, or the developing part, or any unit, which is disposed inside the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming unit 80 may be a delivery roller 10 for delivering the printing paper.

The electrical power source part 56 may supply electrical power by converting the electrical power, which is received from the external source, into a predetermined electrical power, which is required to drive the image forming unit 80. Alternatively, electrical power may be supplied by the chargeable battery, which may be charged and discharged.

The one-way clutch 40 is disposed between the driving part 50 and the delivery roller 10, and transfers the driving power of the driving part 50 to the delivery roller 10 only in the delivery direction of the printing paper. The one-way clutch 40 does not transfer the driving power of the driving part 50 to the delivery roller 10 in a reverse direction of the delivery direction of the printing paper. The one-way clutch 40 is a conventional technical feature, such as is disclosed in Korean Patent First Publication No. 2004-77442.

When the user rotates the delivery roller 10 in the delivery direction of the printing paper by using the rotating handle 30, the delivery roller 10 runs idle by the one-way clutch 40 without regard to the driving part 50. Therefore, the user obtains the induced electrical power to rotate only the delivery roller 10 without running against peripheral units.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a rectifier 60 and an accumulator 70. The rectifier 60 rectifies the induced electrical power generated by the generator 20 into electrical power form, which is required for the image forming unit 80. The rectifier 60 includes a half-wave rectification filter, a full-wave rectification filter, or similar conventional rectification filters, and may convert alternating current power generated by the generator 20 into direct current power. The accumulator 70 may include a capacitor or a similar battery, which may be charged and discharged.

The accumulator 70 may supply the electrical power to the entire image forming apparatus 1. Furthermore, the accumulator 70 may supply the electrical power to the image forming unit 80, which is disposed at the image forming apparatus 1 and functions to form images.

The image forming unit 80 may receive the electrical power selectively from the electrical power source part 56 and the accumulator 70. The image forming unit 80 may be any unit disposed in the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming unit 80 may be the image forming part (not shown) or the delivery roller 10 delivering the printing paper. Further, the image forming unit 80 may be a feed sensor, which senses the feeding of the printing paper, or any sensor, which senses a predetermined sense target. Also, the image forming unit 80 may be the electrical power source part 56. That is, the accumulator 70 may directly supply the electrical power to the electrical power source part 56. Alternatively, the accumulator 70 and the electrical power source part 56 may be the same unit.

When the electrical power in the electrical power source part 56 is enough, the controller (not shown) causes the image forming unit 80 to receive the electrical power from the electrical power source part 56, and when the electrical power in the electrical power source part 56 is poor, the controller (not shown) causes the image forming unit 80 to receive the electrical power from the accumulator 70.

When the electrical power source part 56 receives the electrical power from the external source, the controller (not shown) converts the generator clutch 12 into the closed condition, and causes the driving part 50 to receive the electrical power from the electrical power source part 56. When the driving part 50 rotates the delivery roller 10, the delivery roller 10 delivers the printing paper for forming the image thereon. At the same time, the delivery roller 10 rotates the rotating shaft 26 accordingly as the generator clutch 12 transfers the rotatory force, thereby causing the generator 20 to generate induced electrical power and the accumulator 70 to accumulate electrical power.

When the image forming apparatus 1 is driven by the electrical power charged in the electrical power source part 56, the controller (not shown) may convert the generator clutch 12 to the opened condition. Therefore, the delivery roller 10 delivers the printing paper for forming the image thereon, but it does not rotate the rotating shaft 26, thereby preventing energy from being consumed wastefully by a phase conversion between electrical energy and mechanical energy.

When the electrical power of the electrical power source part 56 is poor, the controller (not shown) causes the accumulator 70 to supply electrical power to the entire image forming apparatus 1 or to the image forming unit 80. Accordingly, when the electrical power of the electrical power source part 56 is exhausted, the electrical power of the accumulator 70 may be used as an auxiliary electrical power source.

The controller (not shown) may display an electrical power poor condition via a display part (not shown) when the accumulated electrical power of the electrical power source part 56 is decreased within a predetermined range. Also, the controller (not shown) stops the drive of the image forming apparatus 1 or the image forming unit 80 and converts the generator clutch 12 to the closed condition. Therefore, the user couples the rotating handle 30 to the delivery roller 10 and rotates the rotating handle 30 in the delivery direction of the printing paper, so that the generator 20 generates the electrical power needed to form the image.

The user may manually perform the conversion between the closed condition and the opened condition of the generator clutch 12 according to the electrical power state of the electrical power source part 56.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an image forming apparatus in accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown therein, the image forming apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a generator 20′ and a delivery roller 10. The generator 20′ includes a rotating shaft 26′, and the delivery roller 10 delivers the printing paper and rotates the rotating shaft 26′.

The generator 20′ includes a stator 24′, which is supported not to rotate with respect to a frame (not shown), and a rotor 22′, which is rotatably accommodated in the stator 24′. The stator 24′ includes a permanent magnet in which magnetic poles having opposite polarity are alternately arranged at a predetermined angular distance. The stator 24′ may include an electromagnet provided with a field coil. The rotor 22′ is coupled to the rotating shaft 26′ and rotates together with it. The rotor 22′ includes the coil arranged in an axial direction. The generator 20′ generates induced electrical power accordingly as the rotor 22′ rotates about the stator 24′. The generator 20′ includes a brush (not shown), which contacts a terminal of the coil by dynamic contact and then transfers the induced electrical power to an accumulator 70 (FIG. 1).

The image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention may have a simple structure, such as rotating the rotating shaft of the generator by rotating the delivery roller. Unlike different kinds of rollers provided to the image forming apparatus, the delivery roller separately functions without coupling to other elements. Therefore, the electricity generated by the rotation of the delivery roller minimizes a negative effect on nearby units. Furthermore, the delivery roller, such as a feed roller or discharge roller, is disposed at the uppermost stream or the lowermost stream on a process pathway of the printing paper, so that external approach thereto is easy.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a delivery roller delivering printing paper by rotating with respect to a predetermined axial line; and a generator having a rotating shaft adapted to rotate on the axial line by the delivery roller.
 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a generator clutch disposed between the delivery roller and the rotating shaft adapted to turn on and off transfer of a rotatory force of the delivery roller.
 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a rotating handle is adapted to be coupled to the delivery roller and to rotate the delivery roller.
 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rotating handle has a connecting arm removably attachable to the delivery roller.
 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the connecting arm extends in a radial direction of the delivery roller.
 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a gripper extends in a direction substantially parallel to the axial line of the delivery roller from an end of the connecting arm.
 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a driving part rotates the delivery roller; and a one-way clutch is disposed between the driving part and the delivery roller and is adapted to transfer driving power from the driving part only in a predetermined delivery direction of the printing paper.
 8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a rotating handle is coupled to the delivery roller and rotates the delivery roller.
 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the rotating handle has a connecting arm removably attachable to the delivery roller and extending in a radial direction of the delivery roller.
 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a gripper extends in a direction substantially parallel to the axial line of the delivery roller at an end of the connecting arm.
 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a driving part rotates the delivery roller; and a one-way clutch is disposed between the driving part and the delivery roller and transfers driving power from the driving part only in a predetermined delivery direction of the printing paper.
 12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a rectifier is connected to the generator to rectify induced electrical power generated by the generator.
 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein an accumulator is connected to the rectifier to accumulate the rectified electrical power.
 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein an image forming unit is adapted to form an image, and the accumulator supplies the accumulated electrical power to the image forming unit.
 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the generator includes a rotating shaft rotatably coupled to the delivery roller; a stator; and a rotor rotatably coupled to the rotating shaft and rotatably disposed within the stator.
 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a plurality of coils are wound on the stator in a direction substantially parallel to the axial line.
 17. A method of generating electricity with an image forming apparatus, comprising the steps of moving a generator clutch disposed between a delivery roller and a rotating shaft rotatably coupled thereto to a closed condition; and rotating the delivery roller to rotate the rotating shaft, which rotates a rotor rotabably coupled thereto within a stator, thereby generating induced electrical power.
 18. A method of generating electricity with an image forming apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising sending the induced electrical power to a rectifier; and rectifying the induced electrical power with the rectifier.
 19. A method of generating electricity with an image forming apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising sending the rectified electrical power to an accumulator; and accumulating the accumulated electrical power with the accumulator.
 20. A method of generating electricity with an image forming apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising sensing the electrical power level of a power source part electrically connected to an image forming unit; and rotating the delivery roller when the sensed power level falls below a predetermined value to generate induced electrical power. 